HOMETOWN EVENTS: Community Fishing Derby

Wednesday, May 9, 2012

— The Ninth Annual Community Fishing Derby, sponsored by the Decatur Assembly of God Big Fisherman, Little Fisherman Community Fishing Program, will be held from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., June 9, at Crystal Lake in Decatur. Children ages 1 through 14 can participate in the free event, and a picnic lunch will be provided for children and their families. The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission will be stocking Crystal Lake’s overflow pond with catfish, and prizes will be awarded for the largest fish, smallest fish and largest stringer in each age category. Registration will begin at 8:15. Pre-registration forms are available at the church and local businesses or online at dagchurch.com. For more information, call Nickie Smith at 238-6147.

Rummage Sale and Gentry UMC

Gentry United Methodist Church will hold a “New to You” Methodist Market rummage sale, beginning at 8 a.m. on Thursday and Friday, May 17 and 18. A few of the items to be sold include a china cabinet, file cabinet, lamps, signed baseballs, toys, golf clubs and bags, and more.

Gravette Community Gardens

Gravette Community gardens has plots left for those who wish to grow flowers and vegetables this summer. A volunteer with a weed eater is also needed to trim around the sign and around the edges of the garden. If anyone has a weed eater and a little timeto volunteer, please call Miriam at 787-5032.

Decatur Swimming Pool

The Decatur swimming pool will open for the season on May 29. Regular pool hours will be 1 p.m.to 5 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday. For more information, call city hall at 752-3912.

Maysville Community Yard Sale

The Maysville E.H. Club will be sponsoring a community yard sale Saturday, June 2 (changed from June 9 due to a conflict). Booths will be available at the community building for persons wishing to sell items. Anyone wishing to participate should call Gwen Singleton at 291-4520.

Gravette Churches VBS

Vacation Bible School will be held from 6 to 8:15 p.m. July 23-26 at First Christian Church in Gravette for ages 4 years to 5th grade. The theme is “Everything Is Possible With God.” First Christian Church, Church of Christ and the Methodist Church will hold this VBS jointly. More information will be available later.

Community Literacy Program

The Decatur and Gravette Community Literacy Program is in need of volunteer tutors. Volunteers work two to three hours a week, and the program provides all training and materials. There is no need for tutors to speak any language other than English. For more information, call 787-8200.

Tired Iron of the Ozarks

Regular meetings of the Tired Iron of the Ozarks are held at 7 p.m. on the third Tuesday of each month at the Tired Iron clubhouse located at the club’s show grounds on Taylor Orchard Road southwest of Gentry. The next meeting will be on Tuesday, May 15.

Christian Coffee House

Rebecca’s Beat in Gentry (on Rebecca Street, just offGentry Blvd.) opens at 7 p.m. on Saturday nights for live music and discussion of various topics related to life and Christianity. All are welcome to come for coffee, fellowship, guidance and information.

Gravette American Legion

Gravette American Legion Post 20 meets the third Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. at the Civic Center. All vets are encouraged to attend. The next meeting is May 15.

Gravette Kiwanis

The Gravette Kiwanis Club holds breakfast meetings at 7 a.m. each Friday at the cafeteria in Ozarks Community Hospital. Guests are welcome.

Convenience Center

Benton County Planning & Environmental and Benton County Solid Waste District provide a free service to the public for disposal of large bulky household items, appliances, electronics and metal. Hours of operation are every Saturday (except on holiday weekends) 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Convenience Center is located at the Benton County Solid Waste District, 5702 Brookside Rd., Bentonville. Items and electronics accepted are furniture, mattresses, box springs, plastic toys, playground equipment, computers, printers, radios, telephones, televisions, VCRs, DVDs, appliances,microwaves, refrigerators, hot water heaters, air conditioners, grills, bicycles, swing sets, dishwashers, freezers, dehumidifiers and scrap metal. For more information, call 795-0751.

Gentry’s farmers’ market will be open May 31 on Mondays and Thursdays, beginning at 8 a.m. each day, at the south end of the Gentry City Park (outside the wooden fence and along the circle drive). The market will be open, free of fees, to all vendors who abide by the market’s rules (to be available at the Gentry City Hall or Gentry Chamber of Commerce office). Items which may be sold at the market include fresh produce, plants and flowers, baked goods, jellies, jams, preserves, eggs, other non-commercial food items and handmade crafts.

Area Men’s Breakfast

The Decatur United Methodist Church has a men’s breakfast the second Saturday of each month, beginning at 8 a.m., at the Gallery Cafe in Decatur. All area men are invited to join the group for good food and Christian fellowship.

Emergency Help

Families in Gravette School District wishing to apply for emergency help with food or utilities may make application from 9 to 11 a.m., Tuesday through Friday, at the Main Street Care and Share store in Gravette.

Singing Services

Monthly singing services at Falling Springs Church are held at 7 p.m., the first Friday of each month. The church is located northwest of Gentry and west of Decatur on Falling Springs Road.

Decatur Food Pantry

The Decatur UnitedMethodist Church offers a food pantry program and a commodity food program for residents in Decatur from 5 to 7 p.m. on the first and third Thursday of each month.

Odyssey of the Mind Fundraiser

A Community Garage Sale will be held from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m on Saturday, May 12, at the Old Trading Post gravel lot on Arkansas Highway 59 in Gentry to raise money for the OM team to attend world finals competition in Ames, Iowa. Booth/table space is available for rent. For more information, call Emily Hodges at 233-9002 today.

Retirement reception for Sherry McMillen

Gentry High School will be hosting a retirement reception for Sherry Mc-Millen on Tuesday, May 15. "Ms. Mac" has taught at GHS for more than 30 years. The drop-in reception will be from 2:30 to 4 p.m. in the high school cafeteria.

Old Settlers' Day in Colcord

Old Settlers Day is June 2, in the city park. A parade will be held at 11 a.m., with lineup at 10 a.m. There will be live music by Stanely Bates; a hog fry, prepared by Mike Shotpouch, starting at noon, with plates for $5; turtle and frog races at 1:30 p.m.; a horse shoe contest, with entry fees set at $10 for a single and $15 for a double (bring yourown horse shoes); a drawing for a handmade Star Quilt, with tickets $1 each or $5 for six (tickets can be purchased at the Colcord Grocery); and the Colcord Rodeo on June 1 and 2.

Talbot Library and Museum

Talbot Library and Museum, 500 S. Colcord Ave., Colcord, Okla., will again be taking part in observance of Old Settlers Day on Saturday, June 2. This annual event, held in Colcord for many years, was originally known as the annual Colcord Picnic. Talbot Library and Museum will be hosting its annual book and bake sale, offering homemade baked goods and used books, as well as hamburger lunches on that day. New books will also be available for sale in the bookstore. All proceeds will go toward the Talbot Library and Museum operating funds. The Library and Museum will also be hosting the Colcord Rodeo Queen contestants for the speech portion of their competition. The special event of the day at the Library and Museum will be the 2 p.m. book presentationand signing of “Sam Sixkiller, Cherokee Frontier Lawman” by author Chris Enss in the historic Springtown Schoolhouse at Talbot’s. Old Settlers' Day events include a parade, annual rodeo, car show, and food and music offered throughout the town. For more information, contact Talbot Library and Museum, 918-326-4532, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday, or email [email protected].

News, Pages 2 on 05/09/2012